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She told him where； and when they got out； said； 〃I'll send it you
by the servant。〃
A flunkey soon after appeared with half…a…crown； and the amateur
coachman drove away。 He said to himself； 〃Come； my mustache is a
better disguise than I thought。〃
Next day； and the day after； he asked Rosa； with affected
carelessness； had she heard anything of Lady Cicely。
〃No； dear； but I dare say she will call this afternoon： it is her
day。〃
She did call at last； and after a few words with Rosa； became a
little restless； and asked if she might consult Dr。 Staines。
〃Certainly； dear。 Come to his studio。〃
〃No； might I see him here？〃
〃Certainly。〃 She rang the bell； and told the servant to ask Dr。
Staines if he would be kind enough to step into the drawing…room。
Dr。 Staines came in； and bowed to Lady Cicely； and eyed her a
little uncomfortably。
She began； however； in a way that put him quite at his ease。 〃You
remember the advice you gave us about my little cousin Tadcastah。〃
〃Perfectly： his life is very precarious； he is bilious； consumptive；
and； if not watched； will be epileptical； and he has a fond； weak
mother； who will let him kill himself。〃
〃Exactly： and you wecommended a sea voyage； with a medical
attendant to watch his diet； and contwol his habits。 Well； she
took other advice； and the youth is worse； so now she is
fwightened； and a month ago she asked me to pwopose to you to sail
about with Tadcastah； and she offered me a thousand pounds a year。
I put on my stiff look； and said； 'Countess； with every desiah to
oblige you； I must decline to cawwy that offah to a man of genius；
learning； and weputation； who has the ball at his feet in London。'〃
〃Lord forgive you； Lady Cicely。〃
〃Lord bless her for standing up for my Christie。〃
Lady Cicely continued： 〃Now； this good lady； you must know； is not
exactly one of us： the late earl mawwied into cotton； or wool； or
something。 So she said； 'Name your price for him。' I shwugged my
shoulders； smiled affably； and as affectedly as you like； and
changed the subject。 But since then things have happened。 I am
afwaid it is my duty to make you the judge whether you choose to
sail about with that little cubRosa； I can beat about the bush no
longer。 Is it a fit thing that a man of genius； at whose feet we
ought all to be sitting with reverence； should drive a cab in the
public streets？ Yes； Rosa Staines； your husband drives his
brougham out at night； not to visit any other lady； as that
anonymous wretch told you； but to make a few misewable shillings
for you。〃
〃Oh； Christie！〃
〃It is no use； Dr。 Staines； I must and will tell her。 My dear； he
drove ME three nights ago。 He had a cabman's badge on his poor
arm。 If you knew what I suffered in those five minutes！ Indeed it
seems cruel to speak of itbut I could not keep it from Rosa； and
the reason I muster courage to say it before you； sir； it is
because I know she has other friends who keep you out of their
consultations； and； after all； it is the world that ought to blush；
and not you。〃
Her ladyship's kindly bosom heaved； and she wanted to cry； so she
took her handkerchief out of her pocket without the least hurry；
and pressed it delicately to her eyes； and did cry quietly； but
without any disguise； like a brave lady； who neither cried nor did
anything else she was ashamed to be seen at。
As for Rosa； she sat sobbing round Christopher's neck； and kissed
him with all her soul。
〃Dear me！〃 said Christopher。 〃You are both very kind。 But；
begging your pardon； it is much ado about nothing。〃
Lady Cicely took no notice of that observation。 〃So； Rosa dear；〃
said she； 〃I think you are the person to decide whether he had not
better sail about with that little cub； thanoh！〃
〃I will settle that；〃 said Staines。 〃I have one beloved creature
to provide for。 I may have another。 I MUST make money。 Turning a
brougham into a cab； whatever you may think； is an honest way of
making it； and I am not the first doctor who has coined his
brougham at night。 But if there is a good deal of money to be made
by sailing with Lord Tadcaster； of course I should prefer that to
cab…driving； for I have never made above twelve shillings a night。〃
〃Oh； as to that； she shall give you fifteen hundred a year。〃
〃Then I jump at it。〃
〃What！ and leave ME？〃
〃Yes； love： leave youfor your good； and only for a time。 Lady
Cicely； it is a noble offer。 My darling Rosa will have every
comfortay； every luxury； till I come home； and then we will start
afresh with a good balance； and with more experience than we did at
first。〃
Lady Cicely gazed on him with wonder。 She said； 〃Oh！ what stout
hearts men have！ No； no； don't let him go。 See； he is acting。
His great heart is torn with agony。 I will have no hand in parting
man and wifeno； not for a day。〃 And she hurried away in rare
agitation。
Rosa fell on her knees； and asked Christopher's pardon for having
been jealous； and that day she was a flood of divine tenderness。
She repaid him richly for driving the cab。 But she was unnaturally
cool about Lady Cicely； and the exquisite reason soon came out。
〃Oh yes！ She is very good； very kind； but it is not for me now！
No！ you shall not sail about with her cub of a cousin； and leave me
at such a time。〃
Christopher groaned。
〃Christie； you shall not see that lady again。 She came here to
part us。 SHE IS IN LOVE WITH YOU。 I was blind not to see it
before。〃
Next day； as Lady Cicely sat alone in the morning…room thinking
over this very scene； a footman brought in a card and a note。 〃Dr。
Staines begs particularly to see Lady Cicely Treherne。〃
The lady's pale cheek colored； she stood irresolute a single
moment。 〃I will see Dr。 Staines；〃 said she。
Dr。 Staines came in； looking pale and worn； he had not slept a wink
since she saw him last。
She looked at him full； and divined this at a glance。 She motioned
him to a seat； and sat down herself； with her white hand pressing
her forehead； and her head turned a little away from him。
CHAPTER XIII。
He told her he had come to thank her for her great kindness； and to
accept the offer。
She sighed。 〃I hoped it was to decline it。 Think of the misery of
separation； both to you and her。〃
〃It will be misery。 But we are not happy as it is； and she cannot
bear poverty。 Nor is it fair she should； when I can give her every
comfort by just playing the man for a year or two。〃 He then told
Lady Cicely there were more reasons than he chose to mention： go he
must； and would； and he implored her not to let the affair drop。
In short； he was sad but resolved； and she found she must go on
with it； or break faith with him。 She took her desk； and wrote a
letter concluding the bargain for him。 She stipulated for half the
year's fee in advance。 She read Dr。 Staines the letter。
〃You ARE a friend！〃 said he。 〃I should never have ventured on
that； it will be a godsend to my poor Rosa。 You will be kind to
her when I am gone？〃
〃I will。〃
〃So will Uncle Philip； I think。 I will see him before I go； and
shake hands。 He has been a good friend to me； but he was too hard
upon HER； and I